THUNDER BAY – Wendel Clark is headed back to Thunder Bay and he’s bringing along some of his best buddies.
The former Toronto Maple Leafs captain and current team ambassador is returning to the city in October to lace up his skates and play with some of the best Thunder Bay scrub players as part of the third annual Thunder Bay Celebrity Hockey Classic.
The event, which last year took in more than $100,000, is the single-biggest fundraiser for the local Easter Seals Ontario chapter.
Other players confirmed for the 2019 tournament at the Thunder Bay Tournament Centre include former Leafs Steve Thomas and Al Iafrate, ex-tough guy and Hockey Night in Canada personality P.J. Stock and retired Thunder Bay power forward Taylor Pyatt, who played 859 National Hockey League games over 14 seasons before hanging up his blades four years ago following a season in Switzerland.
Brent Hagberg has taken part in the tournament for the past two years, and said getting a chance to see first-hand what their fundraising efforts amount to make it all worthwhile.
“Getting to meet those children and seeing what the money goes to, such great children who are in such dire need of funding for wheelchair access and mobility, things like that, it’s a no-brainer,” said Hagberg, whose team last year was the top fundraiser, bringing in $12,000 and their choice of which NHL star would join them on the ice.
That too, was a no-brainer for Hagberg.
“I got my childhood dream to play with Wendel Clark. That was an amazing feat and we hope to do the same again this year.”
Rhonda Harrison, a senior development officer with the regional branch of Easter Seals Ontario, said the Celebrity Hockey Classic has proven to be a major hit in the community.
“We grew it last year. Actually we doubled our numbers and we’re looking forward to another successful year,” Harrison said.
About half the teams have already registered for the event, but Harrison said they’re hoping to top out at 10.
The tournament also includes a draft party at Sleeping Giant Brewery on Oct. 24, the night before the action begins on the ice, a chance to mingle with teammates and the NHLers involved.
Harrison said more players will be named as more teams confirm.
Registration for the tournament is $1,500 per team, with each team member required to raise a minimum of $400.
The money will be put to great use, said 17-year-old Alex Mitchell, this year’s Easter Seals Ontario ambassador.
“It’s a great thing to see because people struggle with (how much) it costs to pay for a lot of this equipment and it’s nice to see that Easter Seals is willing to help out with some of the costs and it’s always there to help out with families that are in need,” he said.
Visit www.easterseals.org or https://celebrityhockeyclassics.com for more information.
